Power press



Oct. 21, 1930. l M. M. TITTERIN'GTON 1,779,151

POWER PRES S original Filed Dgo. .1, 1923 vI5 Sheetssheet 1 Oct. 21, 1930. M. M. TITTERINGTON POWER PRES S 5 sheets-sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. l, 1925 m mw wm E r 1f BY WT RNE V5 y Oct. 21, 1930. M. M. TITTERINGTON POWER PRES S Original F'iled Dec. l, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3o"the expense of providing special electrical Patented Olct. 2l, 1.930

UNITED STATES Parri-:rrr orifice MORRIS M. TITTERINGTON, 'OF BROOKLYN, NEW, YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-u MENTS, TO THE PROSPERITY COMPANY, INC., 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A. CORPO- Barron or NEW' Yoan p,

' rowEa rnEss Application inea December 1, 1923, serial No. 677,928. Renewed August 14, 1829.

This inventionrelates to' -power pressing machines designed principally for all character of work requiring considerable pressure, such for example as pressing garments or other materials, and for laundry pressing work,

A. primary object of the invention is to simplify the design and construction of high power pressing machines whereby heat `and pressure is simultaneously vapplied to the work; and furthermore, an object of the invention is to construct a power pressing machine without resorting to the use. of power developing devices such as electric motors, steam or air cylinders, cams, gears, or similar generating and transmission elements so commonly used tqlproduce pressure and which elements areusually located remotely from the press jaws; er

A further feature and object d -the invention resides in the capacity press to generate pressure y utihzing power derived from fluid heating medium to operate a pressure creating means, that is to say I utilize a portion of the steam ordinarily used to heat the pressing members and thereby produce pressure by employing a medium of power which is already present and available in the pressing machine thereby saving transmission lines as employed by electric motor'presses.

Another object of the invention is to produce improvements in the general combina.- tion as well as to produce novel pressing jaw members .such as the head and buck possessing a new mode of operation.

A still further vobject is to produce new and improved cooperating press jaws or pressing members, either the head or buck or both, whereby the meeting pressing faces equalize upon, over, and across the work by Virtue of an inherent ability to move about the longitudinal or transverse axis of the elongated head or buck member, which is to say that one or the other or both of the pressing faces of my improved-head or buck may wobble, so to speak, over the garment or over the work thereb readily and effectively pressing work whic is of uneven and va-' of myl improved" riable thickness, for itis appreciated by those skilled in the art that various commodities to be pressed, such for example as heavy and light garments, may be thin at one end and thick at the'other; and inasmuch as the working face of my pressing members are universally flexibleand yieldable to uneven surfaces, it follows that the ability of serving to illustrate the principlel ofthe invention and serving to illustrate -in certain respects the structure thereof. It is to be appreciated that variation in design of parts and mode of operation thereof may be made without departing from the scope of my invention.

lIt is to be understood that my improved head or buck pressing member may be-embodied in duplicate in a pressing machine whereby each member-is constructed in accordance with the principle of this invention,l but this is not strictly necessaryfor a pressing machine in reality requires only one pressing member embodying my invention. It is further understood that either the upper or lower pressing members, that is the head 'or buck, may be constructed in accordance with this invention, but for the purposes of the present application, a description of the head will herein be given.

Figure 1 showsa typical pressing machine 4 member for example, the head as removed from the pressing machine.

Figure 3 shows a front elevation of the improved pressing head spaced slightly above the buck. In this view its characteristic ability. to compensate, by wobbling relatively to the buck on the bias or obliquely thereto, is illustrated; and it is observed that one end of the press head is working closer to the buck than the other end thereof.

Figure 4 shows a partial cross section of the head with a portion thereof illustrated in elevation. The high pressure generating device, being a iluid actuated diaphragm, is normally unexpanded and is so shown in this view. This view shows how I combine a heating chamber and spray chamber with the high pressure head.

Figure 5 shows a view similar to Figure 4 except the high pressure diaphragm is shown expanded and forcing down the pressure plate.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional'view through a control valve which may be used in stopping and starting the action of the high pressure diaphragm element.

`ter as heretofore mentioned except that it is of simplilied structure provided with the small size rectangular or square diaphragm and made without a heating or spray chamber.

Referring now more in particularity to the drawings for a detail description of the invention, it is observed that a suitable form of pressing machine rame 10 carries a press lever 11 pivoted at 12; and a-toggle comprising links 13 and 14, is pivoted at l5 on the rear end of the lever 1l. The toggle links are pivoted together at 16, and the link 14 'in fact constitutes one arm of a bell crank, the other element of which is designed as a pedal 17. The bell crank pedal 17 and lower toggle member 14 are pivoted on the frame at 18. A kick ofi' pedal 19 is pivoted on the frame and adapted to thrust upwardly against the pedal 17 to break the toggle 13-14 rearwardly to swing the press lever 11 and lift the press head to produce a wide opening motion of the press. As a means of counter balancing the opening and closing mechanism, a weight 20 may be carried on the rear end of the press lever 11 for quickly opening the press after the kick oil pedal 19 is actuated, and the weight serves to hasten the press opening operation apfter the toggle is broken. Furthermore, I provide a rest or toggle stop 21 on the frame against which the toggle rests after reaching an over straightened position-thereby supporting the toggle against the compressional strain ensuing during the high pressure operation as will be explained. A description will now be given of the high pressure, or final pressure creating means.

This improved pressing machine embodies a diaphragm power generating element which operates under uid pressure and the device draws, for example, steam under pressure from the steam supply pipe ordinarily utilized for heating one or more of the pressing members as well as for steam treating the work to be pressed.

A main supply pipe 23 conveys steam to one or both press jaws or pressing members Jfor the purpose of heating and steam spraying the garment where such spaying operation is desirable. Certain types of pressing machines provide heating means only. On the other hand many pressing machines, as for example tailor presses, preferably have steam spraying chambers in addition to the steam heating chambers. My improvements are intended to be used in connection with all vtypes of press.- ing machines including the two kinds named,and so the steam pipe 23 supplies fluid pressure for example steam to the buck or lower jaw 24 for heating said buck as well as supplying steam thereto for spraying a garment if desirable; and a branch pipe 25 working through the steam pivot joint at l2 supplies steam to the head. Thus, steam is supplied to both the jaws or head and buck for such purposes as desirable, that is Jfor heating one or both of the members as well as for steam spraying the garment from one oi both of the members. For the purposes of this application, a description will be given of the steam heating and spraying functions as embodied in the head for I have chosen the head to illustrate iiiy invention; and a description will now be given of the'said head as the improved high pressure developing pressing member.

The upper jaw or press head is made elongated in shape such as for example as outlined in Figure'2 or 7 or is made in some other shape depending on the particularexvigencies of the case and depending somewhat on the character of the work to be done for it is to be appreciated that in garment pressing machines the pressing members are preferably elongated while for other characters of work the pressingmembers may be somewhat siiiallcr in size and of various shapes.

Mating plate sections in the forni of a head plate 30 and pressure plate 31 are placed together and adapted to undergo relative separating and retracting motions as shown in Figures 4 and 5; and suitable reteiitive guide means are employed to hold the parts together, as for. example guide and retaining screws 32 are fastened to one member and move relatively through a loose bearing 33 in the other member. The screws 32 are shown anchored to the pressure plate 3l and slidahle up and down through the head plate 30, thus forming a loose-motion connection between the press plate 39 and the swingable ecv jaw-carryingvmember 11. This feature affords a free rocking and equalizing pressing or ironing action of the press plate 39 on the worli to iron uneven pieces of goods which may have seams or foldsl in them. Retracting means of appropriate form such as leaf springs 34 are placed under the screw heads with the outer ends thereof bearing on the head plate 30 thereby pulling upwardly on one or more of the screws to draw the head and pressure plate together. Thus it is appreciated that the ironing or press plate 31-39 may, if need be, .undergo a rather irregular and equalizing ironing movement because one end thereof may inove further away from the head plate than the other, or in a similar manner one longitudinal or lengthwise edge of the pressure plate may move further from the head plate 30 than the other edge thereof. In other words the pressure plate 31 in fact possesses a characteristic wobbling motion lengthwise or crosswise relatively to the head plate 30. This feature of my improved construction enables the pressing machine to adapt itself to uneven work for example, if work such as a garment of unequal thickness is placed on the buck 24 the pressure plate 31 delivers pressure uniformly to the work crosswise and lengthwise whereas a rigidly. composed head would deliver more pressure to the thick garment yparts than to' the. thin portions thereof.

The head and pressure plates are grooved out or provided with a marginal shoulder rib to provide in effect a hollow receptacle for the reception of'a high pressure diaphragm 28. The diaphragm is composed of mating flexible diaphragm plates 28 secured together at the edges in any suitable manner to provide a fluid pressure or steam type, expansible member 28 in order that said diaphragm may swell or expand when fluid pressure is dis- -"charged thereinto. In the present instance '45 the margin of the diaphragm 28 is reinforced so as to provide a thoroughly strong and fluid tight pressure element;v furthermore the joined marginal edge of the diaphragm plates 28 as shown at 35 is made relatively thick so as to form a shoulder abutment with one or both of the plates, to maintain the diaphragm in proper position between the plates to prevent itk from possibly working vout of place when the head plates 30 and 31 are forcibly spread apart as shown in Figure 5.

A heating chamber 36 is formed by fitting a plate 37 on to the head plate 30, thus providing the space or chamber 36 for the reception of steam or other heating medium. The plate is preferably provided with a pipe connection duct 29 by whichthe aforesaid pipe 25 is connected with the press head to supply steam to the chamber 36 for raising the temperature of the pressing member.

A steam spray chamber 38 is formed in the head, in this instance on the pressure plate, by fitting a foraminous plate 39 on to the plate 31 thereby providing the said space 38 which connects outwardly with the work through the perforations 440. Necessarily, means are provided for discharging a spraying medium such as live hot. steam to the spray chamber 38 and for the purposes of illustratingthis feature, I haveshown a relatively movable flexible tube 42 connecting both chambers 36 and 38. .For example a flexible tube or pipe connection duct 43 is cast integrally with the head plate 30 and connects with the hollow space 36 for the purpose of supplying steam from said heating chamber 36 outwardly through the tube 42 to the spray chamber 38; and similarly the foraminous spray plate 39 is cast with a duct 44 for connection with theflexibletube 42.

This structure enables the upper and lower head sectionsto relatively move one to the other, and at the same time steam may be fed rom the heating chamber to the spray cham- 'A valvel 46 opened and closed by a valve handle 47 is mounted over the upper chamber duct 43 to cut 0E the flow of steam to the spray chamber 38. The valve 47 is placed in a position convenient to the operator and by its use he may discharge live hot steam under pressure to the spray chamber 38 at any time thus treating the garment or other work 'with steam simultaneously with the application of heat and pressure if the condition of the work being treated so requires.

Manual control means are provided for supplying steam to the diaphragm and'exhausting it therefrom for the purpose of starting and stopping the high pressure developing mechanism; and this may be a valve located on the press head convenient to the operators hand. The plate 30 is ordinarily fitted with Y' a flanged nipple 50 into which is threaded a v alve -housing 51 within which acore 52 is rotated by a handle 53. This valve is intended to supply steam under the control of the operator to the diaphragm 32 for the purpose of producing high pressure and for the purpose of discharging steam therefrom after the high pressure operation is complete. A steam passage 54 is made in the valve core 52 and connects at the top with the exhaust port 55 leading to atmosphere, or the exhaust port 55 is connected with a discharge pipe, not shown, to carry the steam away from the pressing machine. Similarly the steam passage 54 connects at the bottom thereof with the inside of the diaphragm 28. Also the passage 54 has a port 56 'which registers with a valve housing passage 57 and thus connects the chamber 36 with the diaphragm chamber 28.

One setting of the valve handle 53 closes oil' the exhaust port 55 and connects the valve port 56 with the steam chamber 36 and diaphragm 28 thus feeding steam from the pipe 25 and chamber 36 directly to the diaphragm which causes the sameto expand thereby mov- 5 ing downwardly the lower head section 31-39 with great force upon the work supported by thebuck 24. The-valve handle 53 is left in this position as long as it is desired to continue the high pressure operation, whereupon the valve is turned to the next operative position which closes off the passage 57 and connects the diaphragm 28 with the discharge port 55 whereupon the internal pressure within the diaphragm is released permitting the retract-ing springs 34 to pull the head section 31-39 back to its original non-pressing position.

It is observed how, for the convenience and rapidity of manipulation by the operator, the steam control handles 53 and 47 are placed on the head of the pressing machine thus giving the operator completecontrol of the high pressure mechanism as well as the garment steam spraying facilities.

4In Figure 7 there is illustrated a relatively small fluid pressure diaphragm 59 disposed between ahead plate 60 and movable plate 61. The pressing member 60- 61 is, as heretofore explained, composed of two separable plates 6() and 61 with the diaphragm 59 interposed thereinbetween, and may or may not incorporate steam heating and spraying chambers as the case may be. A valve handle 64 is adapted to operate a valve 65 which connects with a steam supply pipe 66. The pipe 66 is connected with a duct 67 forming part of the valve casing and is adapted to supply steam through the valve to the diaphragm 59,

as well as exhaust the steam therefrom.

Having described in a general way the organization of the pressing machine opening and closing mechanism, as well as having described my invention as combined therewith, it is now important to note that the toggle 13-14 constitutes a locking mechanism which braces agains the press lever 11 when the high pressure p ate 31 or 61 jams down with great force upon the buck 24; and thus the pedal mechanism which opens and closes the press steadfastly holds the head and buck in close relation during the high pressure operation.

Having completed the pressing operation, the operator exhausts the steam from the diaphragm 28 by bringing the valve handle 53 to that position shown in Figure 4 whereupon the 'high pressure is released thus enabling the operator to kick down on the front end of the short pedal 19 to lift the pedal 17 and break the toggle rearwardly, thus opening the press.

The arrangement of thepress closing and opening toggle 13-14 is such thata wide opening movement is secured with a relatively short pedal stroke; and it is observed ployed in Figures 1 and 7, I corrugate the flexible ysheet metal plates,.as at 70, which increases the expansibility of the devices so they may rapidly swell and contract under the pressure of the steam flowing into the diaphragm chamber and exhausting there-` from.

' It is to be appreciated that super-pressure is derived from a press of this construction for the reason that the diaphragms have substantially a large working surface against which the steam expands. While in Figure 1, I have shown a diaphragm nearly equall in area to the press head or buck itself in order that the extremely high pressure procurable be realized by those conversant with the art; I have in Figure 7 shown a diaphragm of smaller working area than the pressing member; and in actual practice the diaphragm of small'size may be more suitable in order that unnecessary and abnormally high pressure be avoided.

Still another advantage inherent in this construction resides in the fact that steam of less pressure than heretofore used may now be employed, thus eliminating high steam pressure boilers and pipe lines, for, by reason of the large area against which the steam works, there results as much final pressure in my press as could be ordinarily procured by using very high steam pressure in a cylinder type press. Furthermore, cylinders and istons leak and for that reason such pressing machines are objectionable.

My improved pressure developing `diaphragm has no external relative moving parts, it is steam tight, it is'encased withinv the head or buck and protected from damage, it requires no lubrication whatsoever; and nally its use enables presses of lighter weight, simpler construction and fewer parts to be manufactured, for in power presses of present-day use, it is common practice to install power means such as an electric motor, steam cylinders, and transmission parts on the :trame to work the head thereby filling the frame with electric or vsteam machinery, while in my improvements no such machinery is employed. This press, having no operatin machinery or transmission parts,-is unlike y to get out of working order.

Another fundamental advantage of my invention resides in its mode oi operation wherein the pressure goes on and comes 0E easily without producing strain and reaction which is common in presses now used and so much sothat presses capable of producing high pressure are quite noisy because wardly to they suddenly open when released. In my invention the steam is first exhausted from the diaphragm which removes the high pressure leaving the pressing members engagedY under light contact. No noise results in breaking the toggle and lifting the head after high pressure has been removed.

The press lever ll is one example ofpressj aw, operating means, or a movable head-support or jaw-carrying member suited for raising and lowering the press head or entire upper jaw 30-39 for opening and closing the press; and the ironing pressure for huishing the work is exerted through the agency of the force-applying means inherent for example in the'diaphragm 59-70, or 28, or other equivalent means, which is also carried with and moved with the head-carrying member 1l and reacts thereagainst downpush or thrust the movable ironing plate 5l-89 against the buck after the press is closed. The spaced leaf springs 34 and the retaining screws 32 form a loose-motion yieldab-le connection between the press plate 31-39 and the movable press lever 1l and thereby ali'ords a wobbling or biased compensating, rocking or equalizing action to take place in the press plate 39 to equalize or press over rough, uneven, seamed or folded work.

What l claim is l. A jaw for power presses comprising, a pair of jaw plates, retentive guide bolts anchored in one plate and loosely movable in guide holes formed in the other plate to loosely connect the plates together for relative motion, springs cooperating with the bolts and with the plates to normally hold the plates close together in non-pressing position, and power means disposed between the plates to -overcome the springs and torce one plate against work to be treated and away from the other plate.

2. A press jaw for use in connection with power presses comprising, a pair of mating plates and means to loosely attach them together for relative movement, means disposed therein between for forcing said plates apart, one of the plates being provided with a heating means, and the other plate being provided with a spray chamber having one foraminated enclosing wall.

3. A press jaw comprising, al pair of mating plates movable in relation to each other and one of whichV is used as a press plate to engage work, each of said mating plates being provided with a fluid chamber' one of which is a heating chamber to warm the jaw and the lother of which has one of its enclosing walls loraminated to form a spray chamber to spray the work, power means disposed between the plates to act against the same and force them apart, and a movable fluid connection made between the two chambers to convey fluid from the heating chamber to the spray chamber.

4. A press jaw comprising, a pair of mating plates movable in relation to each other and one of which is used as a press plate to engage the work, each of said mating plates beingprovided with va fluid chamber one of which is a heating chamber to warm the jaw and the other of which has one of its enclosing walls oraminated to form a spray chamber to spray the work, power means disposed between the plates to act against the same and force them apart, and a llexible tubehaving its ends connected tothe respective chambers and extending along the edges of the two plates.-

5. A press jaw comprising, a pair of mating plates one of which is a rigid press plate to engage work to be treated, means mounting the pair oi' plates in movable and guided wobbling relation to each other, and a fluid pressure expansion diaphragm placed between the plates to act against the same and force the press plate against the work.

6. A press jaw for use in the connection with power presses, comprising a pair of mating plates attached together and being relatively movable, means disposed thereinbetween for forcing said plates apart, and a retracting lmeans .comprising leaf springs mounted on the jaw in spaced relation, and retentive guide means to hold the plates together for relative motion, and the springs and retentive guide means being connected together so that .the springs normally urge the plates together. 1

7. A power press comprising, press jaws adapted to open and close on the work, operating means for carrying out the jaw opening'and closing operation, a diaphragm in one jaw working under fluidl pressure tor executing high pressure on the work after the press has closed, a press plate actuated by the dia- I phragm to produce jaw compression, a heating chamber containing heating means embodied in said one jaw to rheat the work, a steam spray chamber formed in said one jaw, and means for supplying steam from the heating chamber to the spray chamber and to the diaphragm, and steam controlling means for said chamber and diaphragm.

8. A power press comprising, press jaws adapted vto open and close on the work, op-

erating means connected therewith or cara fluid connection between the heat-ing chamber and spray chamber. v

9. A pressing jaw for use in connection with power presses `comprising, a pair of mating plates attached together and relatively movable one on the other, a steam operated diaphragm disposed thereinbetween for forcing said plates apart, said jaw being provided with a steam heating chamber and a steam spray chamber, and ineans for feeding steam from the heating chamber to operate the diaphragm for forcing the plates apart.

10. A pressing machine comprising cooperating press jaws, an operator actuated mechanism adapted to open and close the press, a rigid pressure plate carried on one of the press jaws and movable in relation thereto after the press is closed, power means for forcing said plate into compression with the other jaw to produce final pressure, and means attaching the rigid pressure plate to the press jaw allowing it to rock and compensate for work having uneven and irregular surface.

1.1. A pressing machine comprising cooperating press jaws, operating means to open and close the press, a rigid pressure plate carried by one of the press jaws' and movable in relation thereto, means attaching the rigid pressure plate to the press jaw permitting the plate to rock and compensate for uneven and irregular surface work, and a fiuid pressure diaphragm disposed between the rigid pressure plate/and press jaw adapting the plate to move on the bias or obliquely with great force against the other press jaw,

and valve control means governing the operation of the diaphragm.

12. A press jaw comprising, two members one of which is a support and the other a pressure plate, means movably connecting the pressure plate to the support whereby the pressure plate is capable of pressure movement in relation to the support along a separating plane between the support and pressure plate, said pressure plate being provided with a -fluid receiving chamber, and a flexible fluid connection disposed across the separating plane and 4having its endsfixed and joinedl to the support and to the fiuid chamber of the pressure plate.

13. A press jaw comprising two `pressing members and means to connect them together for relative movement along a separating plane therebetween, each member being pre- 1 vided with a fiuid receiving chamber, and a fiexible tubular Ifluid connection having its ends fixed and joined to the chamber of each member and crossing the separating plane whereby the fiuid connection gives between its fixed ends during the relative movement between the two pressing members.

14. A press jaw comprising, pressing members and means attaching them together for relative movement, one of the members being adapted for'use as a pressure plate which is supported on the other member, a fluid pressure operated diaphragm disposed between the members to force them apart, said pressure plate being provided with a perorated spray chamber, a flexible tube connection having one end thereof joined to the spray chamber and-the other -end'thereof attached to said other member whereby fiexure occurs in the flexible tube between the members when relative motion occurs between said members, and means connected to thel .fluid receiving chamber.

16. A press jaw as defined in claim 15 wherein means is provided to control the flow of fluid pressure thru the fluid passage.

17..A press jaw as defined in claim 15 wherein a valve is mounted in the fluid passage to control the flow of fluid pressure therethrough.

18. A jaw construction for motor-actuated garment or ironing presses comprising jaw plates, one being movable in relation to the other and one of which is adapted as a rigid press plate to engage and press against the work, pivotall supported mounting means holding the ot er plate stationary while the rigid press plate is actuated and to swing the jaw to open and close the press, and motor means swinging with the jaw construction and being confined between and engaging and acting against the two plates and reacting against the stationary plate and its mounting means to force the rigid press plate away from the stationary plate to produce compression' on the work.

19. A unitary press jaw for power garment or ironing presses comprising jaw plates, retentive guide means to loosely hold them together for relative motion, including means affording a rocking motion over uneven workto be pressed, one of which plates is adapted as a rigid press plate to press against work to be treated, an actuating .member attached to the other plate to swing the jaw plates to open and close the press, and motor means disposed between and in engagement with the plates to swing with the unitary press jaw and force the plates apart and hence move said rigid press plate against the work to produce compression thereon.

20. In a garment or ironing press, coacting jaws and operating means to open and close a jaw, one of the press aws being provided with fluid-operated motor means, and including three chambers, one of which is a perforatedspray chamber, another a fluid receiving chamber, and the third forms a housing in which said motor means is mounted within the press jaw, a throttle valve handlemounted on the jaw and including a valve core which peaches from the handle thru the jaw surface into the fluid receiving chamber andy thence reaches to the motor means to transmitfluid thereto for operating the same, ports in the valve core adapted to be opened and closed by the handle, means including a valve to convey iiuid from the receiving chamber to the spra chamber, and a rigid press plate relative y movable on the jaw and in which said perforated spray chamber is formed.

21. In a garment or ironing press jaw, a support and a rigid press plate movably mounted thereon, andhaving a heating chamber, a diaphragm interposed between the support and press plate and including a iiuid expansion chamber, a valve having a core with means to transmit fluid from the heating chamber to the expansion chamber and being mounted on the jaw and projecting into the expansion chamber, means to supply fluid pressure to the heating chamber and to the valve and hence to theI expansion chamber, and means to operate the valve core to regulate the iow of Huid pressure into the expansion chamber to actuate the diaphragm. v

22. In a garment or ironing press jaw` containing a built-in fluid. motor means, a movable supportand a relatively movable Tigid press plate mounted thereon, a diaphragm .motor means inteIR-tbetween the movable support and its relatively movable press plate and including a fluid expansionA chamber, a control valve having a core with means to transmit fluid and being mounted on the jaw accessible to the press operator and projecting into the expansion chamber, said diaphragm motor means includmg a exible sheet and the valve core projectlng therethru, means to seal the valve core against leakage of fluid pressure around 'the flexible sheet of the diaphragm where said core projects thru the sheet, means to supply fluid pressure to the valve and hence to the expansion chamber, and means to operate the valve core to regulate the flow of fluid pressure into the expansion chamber to actuate thevdia'phragm which reacts against the movable support to thrust the rigid press plate against the work.

23. In an ironing or garment press, coacting press jaws including a. press plate andbuck, operating means to actuate the press plate in relation to the buck to open and close the press including a movable jawcarrying member, means loosely attaching the press plate for limited pressing motion in relation to the movable jaw-carrying member, spring means mounted on the movable -jaw-carrying member and conneete withthe press plate to urge said press plate -away from the work to be pressed; and

force-applying\means mounted on the movable jaw-carrying member, being movable therewith during opening and closing mo` close the press including a movable jaw-car-l ryingmember, means attaching the press plate for limited motion in relation to the movable jaw-carrying member, said lastnamed means including aloose connection whereby the press plate hangs Vfreely from the movable jaw-carrying member thereby affording a rocking action against uneven work on the buck, and force-applying means carried by the movable jaw-carrylng member and the press plate and movable therewith as the press opens and closes and reacting downwardly therefrom after the press is closed to engage and ,force the press plate against the buck to press the-work.

25. In an ironing or garment press, coacting press jaws including a press plate and buck, operating means to actuate `the press plate in relation to the buck to open and close the press including a movable jaw-carrying member', means attaching the press plate for limited motion in relation to Ithe movable jaw-carrying member, leaf spring retracting means mounted on and movable withl the movable jaw-carrying member to lift upwardly on the press plate and away I from the buck, and means mounted on the movable jaw-carrying member and disposed proximate the leaf sprin means to react against said movable mem er and to thrust downwardly therefrom on the press plate.

26. In an ironing or garment press, coactig press jaws including a press plate and buck, operating means to actuate the press plate in relation to the. buck to open and close the press including `amovable jawcarrying member, means attaching the' press platefor limited motion in relation to the movable jaw-carrying member, force-applying means carried in between the jaw-carrying member and the press plate and movable therewith and reacting downwardly 2?. L@ .f l inning er gemdlem psess comi;- mg press *jews including a pressplete E em ber and husk, egeming means ibo emulate "she press-plaie membe in zeeen te the buck to open and close "ehe @Tess including e mem abe jaW-cemyng membe"9 means oesely ei;- taehing 'the press-plete member for limited pressing meten in Teeen fue ehe mes/able jew-Carrying member means als@ bemg conmeced Wl the latter @Way f2-30m @he Wolk e be pessec -force-applyng memes mounted. in between the two membes enc@ moveable herewth during opening and eesng motion of uhe press, an sei 01eeeppying means Yeast ing agains; the tw@ members after 'the press is closed to overeeme the spring means :md force the press plaie member against he buck.

In testimony whe-reef efx my signature.

the press-plete '63e urge 

